22/07/2026 18:17 - Politica
In the midst of the tense climate following the Argentine national team's defeat in the 2026 World Cup final and subsequent international criticism on social media, provincial deputy Agustín Romo alongside 19 legislators from La Libertad Avanza and the PRO, presented a bill on July 21, 2026. The legislation, introduced in the Buenos Aires provincial legislature, aims to charge foreign citizens who cannot prove permanent residency in the country for medical care and university education.
The bill establishes that foreigners without permanent residency must cover the cost of scheduled medical treatments through health insurance, a third-party guarantor, or by paying the corresponding fee. The collection will be managed through the Organized Medical Care System (SAMO), a local health coordination structure.
Exceptions No person may be rejected, delayed, or conditioned in cases of emergencies or life-threatening situations. The financial recovery will only be processed after the patient is stabilized. The law also exempts victims of human trafficking and those requiring vaccinations or treatment for communicable diseases due to public health concerns.
The initiative mandates provincial public universities to set a tuition fee for undergraduate studies taken by non-resident foreigners. Each institution will define the amounts and payment methods.
Important The bill does not affect national universities located in the province, such as the National University of La Plata (UNLP) or the National Technological University (UTN). It would only apply to provincial institutions like the Provincial University of the Southwest (UPSO) and the Provincial University of Ezeiza (UPE).
Deputy Romo justified the measure by arguing that "it is not fair for people who are temporarily in the country to use these services for free without contributing to their maintenance." The proposal arises in a context where social media viralized alleged mockery from foreign residents towards Argentina after the World Cup final.
At the national level, the Undersecretary of University Policies, Alejandro Álvarez, recalled that Decree 366/2025 already authorizes national universities to charge non-resident foreign students, although the final decision remains in the hands of each institution.
The initiative received support from various ruling coalition figures, including the head of the libertarian bloc in the Senate, Patricia Bullrich, who ironically posted on her social media: "We are the worst! But the most chosen". Meanwhile, President Javier Milei shared messages linked to an alleged "global anti-Argentina campaign" and quoted a phrase attributed to Winston Churchill about having enemies.
From the opposition, a consulted PRO deputy warned that "it is not a good public policy decision to act in the heat of the moment" following a sports defeat, considering that the debate should take place in a calmer environment, even labeling the current initiative as "somewhat xenophobic".
Sources consulted: Infobae, La Nación, La Política Online, Ambito, El Día.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
